The Other America: Visiting Costa Rica

The Republic of Costa Rica lies in Central America, nestled right between neighboring Nicaragua and Panama. The notable thing about this small country is that the nation abolished its army around 1949, and it has consistently ranked highly on yearly graphs of the Human Development Index (a general measurement of a population's quality of life) among other countries of the world. Simply put, it's nothing like North America.

Aside from having a peace-loving and happy populace, Costa Rica is perhaps best known for its tourist destinations. Many come to the country for its beaches, but the shores and its fishes aren't the only attractions to be found in this coastal country. The various national parks littered around Costa Rica take pride in their high biodiversity, hosting exotic flora and fauna that would be rare sights anywhere else.

The national reserves aside, Costa Rica offers a wide variety of exciting and extreme activities for visiting tourists. Stuff like bungee jumping, canopy walking, surfing, snorkeling, and even visiting an active volcano are available for travelers who want a little adventure. Costa Rica may not be anything like North America, but with so many unique and wonderful things to see and do, perhaps it's better that way.

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Some Good Reasons to Retire in Costa Rica

When preparing for retirement, many people consider places outside of their homeland where they can make the most of their pension. Some of these options include faraway, exotic places where they can not only take advantage of lower living costs but also live out the rest of their days in peace and quiet. Thanks to such places, they can bid goodbye to the hustle and bustle of city life and live as close as one can get to Paradise.

One such place is Costa Rica, which is actually among the Top 5 Retirement Havens in the World as compiled by International Living Magazine. While beautiful beaches, lush valleys, and cool mountains make this country very picturesque, it doesn't mean that those who have bought real estate properties here are living like nomads or monks. On the contrary, Costa Rica boasts a modern telecommunications structure, lavish theaters, magnificent art galleries, and first-rate fine dining restaurants—all of which retirees can enjoy at a fraction of their normal costs in their home countries.

Despite its label as an exotic destination, Costa Rica is far from lacking in transportation services. For one, it receives direct flights coming from the United States and Canada. Its main roads are also well-paved and regularly maintained, so if foreign residents want to try going local, they can take the country's inexpensive but thoroughly efficient public transportation system. 

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